Stamp-affixing machine.



T. c. GILBERT & E. J. L J. T. TABLBR.

STAMP AFIIXING MACHINE.

APPIOATION FILED DBO. 12, 1907.

904,948. Patented Ney. 24, 190s.

STATES Pif-*1J T OFFTE.

THOMAS CLAYTON GILBERT, EUGENE JASPER TABLER, AND JESSE TRIGG TABLER, OF ATLANTA7 GEORGIA; SAID GTLBERT ASSIGNOH TO LOUIS WELLHOUSE, OF ATLANTA,

GEORGIA.

STAIEP-AFFDiING MACHINE.

Application :Tied December 12, 1867. Serial No. 406,1!9..

To all whom may concern:

Be it. known that we, THoMAs Charron GILBERT. EUGENE JASPER Tannen, and JSSE TRIGO. Tannen, citizens of the United States, residing at Atlanta, in 'the county of Fulton and citate of Georgia, have invented eert-ain new and useful lniprovexnents in Stamp Aifving lllaelnnes; .and we do declare the following to be a full, elear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art-to which it appertains to malte and use the saine.

This invention relates to improvements ,in stanipntlixing machines.

The object of the invention is to provide a machine of this character by means of which stamps )nay be rapidly affixed to envelope or packages, means being proviiiled whereby the stamps are moistened and separated before being affixed.

l/Vith this object in view, the invention Consists of certain novel features of construetion, Combination and arrangement of parts will be described hereinafter and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the aceoinpanyingi drawings, Figure 1 is a side view of a stanip-alfixing machine oonstructed in accordance with the invention. parts of the operatingr mechanism being` shown in dotted lines; Fig. 2 a front view of the saine; Fig. 2l is a detail sectie-i of a portion of the supporting* fir the feeding Aolle/r, showing the inanner in which the vlatter is turned to feed the stamps forward; Fig. e is a detail sectional view through the feed roller on the line 1 -fz of Fig'. 3; and Fig. 5 is adetail sectional View of the plunger, the stanip-holdiney arras and the inoisteningf devufes carried thereby.

leferrii'ilg' more particularly to the drawings, l denotes a supporting' fraine comprisin;r parallel side plates, L), whieh are connected at their upper ends by a forwardly projecting cross har. l, adapted to serve as a guide brat-kel for the stainp-atlixingr plunger of the nun-bine. Un the formxrd edges of the side plaies at the base of the inaohine, is forn'ied a forwardly prelim-,tine table, l. npon which the envelopsy or parkoers rest while the stamps are beruf atlix'ed thereto.

()n the rear portion of the Hide plates is arranged a rover plate. 2, the lower end of which is in the forni of a door, 2", adapted to Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 24, 1908.

tion. On the inner side of the plunger shaft adgaeent to the lower end, is formed a rearwardly 'projecting toothed rack, 9, which is adapted to be engaged with a centrally disposed spur gear wheel, 10, fixedly mounted .upon a transversely disposed Shaft, 12,

which is journaled in suitable bearings in the side plates 2 of the machine.

On the shaft 12 adjacent to the inner side of one of the side plates 2 is fixedly mounted a second spur gear wheel, 13, which is adapted to mesh with a Hear 1-1, loosely mounted upon a feed roller slliaft 15, which is mounted in the side plates 2, below the shaft 12. On the inner side of the gear wheel, 14, is formed an annular series of ratchet teeth, 16, which are adapted to turn in the recessed end 1T of a feed roller, 1S, and are adapted to engage a spring' projetted pawlil), ar-v ra aged in said recessed end of the roller as shown. whereby when the pluiwer is depressed and motion imparted thereby through the rack, il. and gear wheels, 12, 13 and lll, to said ratchet teeth, the latter will turn the feed roller 18 in the proper direc- -tion for feeding; the stamps forwardly.

lvlounied on a transversely disposed shaft, 20. which is journaled in the side plates Q, is a lower feed roller, Q1. between which and the upper feed roller` 1S, the si rip of stamps adapted to pass. The `stamps are provided in si rips which are wound upon a reel shaft,

thaends of which are removably journaled in inclined bearing slots, 23, formed in the rear edges of the opposite side plates, lhe shaft is normally held in opera-- 'live position in the bearing slots 23, by meansl of retaining hooks. "4, which are pivotaly mounted on thtl outer sides of the side plates 2, as shown. lhe strip of stamps when unwound, passes over a guide roller,

25, the ends of which are journaled in the side plates, 2, and from said roller the strip of stamps passes between the feeding rollers 1S; and 2l.

YAfter leaving the feed rollers, the strip of stamps is fed over a supporting shelf, 25, and then througl'i a severing device which is here shown in the form of shears, consisting of a lower stationary cutting blade, QG, which is bolted or otherwise secured to the forward edge of the side plates, 2, anda movable blade, 27, which is pivoted atene end to the adjacent end of the stationary'ltlade, and is adapted toco-act with the latter to sever one stamp at a time from the strip. ,The movable blade 2T is restored to its normal position and held Vup bypieans of a leaf spring, 28, which is secured to the stationary blade, 26, adjacent to the plvotedrend of the movV able blade. Y, f\ The movable blade of the shears is oper? ated by means ot' a dog or pawl, 29, which is pivotally mounted on one side of the stampatiixing head, 7, whereby when the plunger is depressed, the projecting end of the dog will be engaged with the tip or outer end of the movable blade, 27, of the shears, thereby depressing said blade and causing the same to co-act with the lower stationary blade to Yer t e, stamp. The dog 29 'is pivotally mounted on the head 7 in such a manner that when the same is engaged with the movable blade of the shear, the latter Will be operated as hereinbefore described, but upon the upward movement of the plunger, the dog will be rocked or tilted downwardly when bro ght into engagement with 'the shears, thus permitting the dog to pass. The dog is restored to its normal position after passing the shears on the upward movement of the plunger head by means of a retracting spring, 30. i l

Carried by the plunger, 5, is a stamp-applying device `on which are arranged combined stamp-holding and moistening devices. The applying-device is herein shown and preferably consists of a pair of spring metal arms, 32, the upper ends of which are connected by a cross bar which passes through a slot in the plunger shaft, and is connected to a ret'racting spring, 33, arranged in a recess, 34, formed in said shaft. The extreme lower ends of the arms, 32, are curved or bent out-Y `wardly to form vsupporting fingers, 35,

which, when the plunger is depressed, will come into engagement with the envelop and cause the arms, 32, to spread apart, the purpose ot' which will be hereinafter described.

Secured to the inner sides of the'arms, 32. are thtl combined stamp-holding and moistening devices which are here Ishown and are preferably in the 'tor-m ot shallow rectangular boxes. Btl, formed ot' metal and having their upper sides closed by thin perforated covers, 3T. The boxes 36 are adapted to contain Sponges, or other absorbent material which is kept wet when the machine is being used.V 'lhe moisture from said sponges or absorbent material will ooze or seep through the perforated covers of the boxes and meisten the stamp when deposited thereon in a manner hereinafter to be described.

rlhe arrangement of the rack, 9, on the plunger is such that on the downward movement of the plunger, the upper end ol the rack will pass `out of engagement with the gear, l0, at thesame moment that the dog 29 engages the shears to cause the same to sever the stamp. When the rack has thus become disengaged from the gear 10, the feeding operation ceases so that no stamps will be fed during the remainder ol the downward movement oll the plunger in the operation ot' severing the stamp and allix- "ingthe same to the envelop. Upon the upward movement; of the plunger, when the rack, engages the gear, l0, tlie.latter and the gears driven thereby are turned backwards. This motion, however, will not be imparted to the feeding roller, 18, for the reason that the ratchet teeth,v 16, on the gear, lll, will play loosely over the pawl, 19, vwhich connects the ratchet teeth with the upper feeding roller. The stamp-holding arms 32 are moved downwardly by the engagement ot the plunger head, 7, with the boxes, 36, as the plunger is depressed. The initial upward movement of the arms, 3:2, upon the retraction el' the plunger is accomplished by means of the coiled spring, 33, which is connected to the cross bar at the upper ends or" the arms and is arranged in the recess in the plunger shaft, as hereinbefore described.

ln using the machine, it is the intention to place a stach et cnvelops on the table, 4, with their corners in proper position to receive the plunger and to consecutively stamp 'the envelops in the stack, drawing ott' the top envelop as the stamp is alixed thereto. ln operation the plunger is pressed downwardly by the hand and the rack t) engaging the gear wheel lt). transmits motion to the upper t'eed roller through the medium of the gears ls'fand 14, and the ratchet teeth and pawl as hereinbeiore described, thereby i'eeding the strip of stamps forwardly between the shears and over the moistening devices. As the plunger descends and thus feeds the stamps forwardly` the dog on the plunger head will engage the upper shear ,blade at the proper time tosever the stamp on the, end of the strip, said stamp being deposited upon the n'ioistening devices on the holding arms, and held thereon by the plunger head, 7. whieh at this time is in engagement with said moistening devices. jt ilurther downward movement oi `.the plunger forces the stamp holding arms and andere meistening devices downwardly until the spreading fingers, engage the envelop and :torce said arms and devices apart., thereby depositingthe stamp in position upon the envelop, where it is fastened by the pressure ot the plunger head, 7, thereon. 'lhc pressure ot the` stamp on the nicistening dcvices ...by the'f plunger causes the moisture 'from the spnges therein to seep vthrough the perforated covers ot' the devices, and thus meisten the stamp as it is being pushed downwardly by the plunger.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters-Patent, is: v

l. ln a stamp-ailixing machine, a supporting frame, a stamp-aftixiiig plunger, means actuated by the movement ot the plunger to move a strip ot stamps forwardly, means whereby the `stamps are severed 'from the strip, spring stamp-carrying arms, stampinoistening devices on said arms, and means whereby the latter are spread apart to deposit the stampen the envelop, substantially as described. i 2. lin a stamp-aftixing machine, a supporting frame, a spring-.retracted stainp-atl'ixing plunger slidably mounted in said l trame, stamp-feeding rollers, a train oi' gears actu- "l by the movement oi'Y said plunger to operate said feeding rollers, a severing device operated by the movement ot the plunger to uccessively sever the stamps fed forward by said feeding rollers, spring stamp-carrying arms, means whereby the strip of stamps is inoistened, and spreading lingers on the lower ends of said arms whereby the latter are operated Vto deposit the stamp, substantially as described. A

3, ln a stamp-aflixing machine, a supporting trame. a spring-retracted stamp-attixing plunger' slidably mounted in said trame, a rack carried by saidplunger, stan'ip-leeding rollers revolubly mounted in said trame, a train ot gears operated by the rack on said plunger, means whereby said gears are operati 'ely connected to the upperteeding roller to turn the same in one direction when the plunger depressed, and to prevent the retrograde movement ot the roller when the plungi'ir retracts, a stamp-severing mechanism actuated by the movement ot the plunger. expansible stamp-carrying arms connected to said plunger adapted to convey and de'- posit the severed stamps on the envelops, substai'i'tially as described.

it. In a stamp-afliXing machine. a. stampatlixing plunger. a stamp-severing device actuated by said plunger, stamp-carrying arms connected to the plunger, spreading lingers on the lower end thereof. and comllined holding and moistening devices on said arms. substantially as described.

5. lin a stamp atiixing machine, a stamp allixing plunger, ay stamp-severing device ac- .l holding arms, s

tuated by the latter, spring stamp carrying armsconuected to said plunger, combined holding and moistening devices carried by said spring arms and comprising boxes or receptacles adapted to contain absorbent ma.- terial, and perforated covers on said boxes whereby the moisture 'from the material will seep through and meisten the stamp when deposited on said covers subst antially described.

6. In a stamp-atlixing machine, a sup orting frame, a spring retracted stamp-a Xing plunger, a rack carried by said plunger, upper and lower revolubly mounted stamp feeding rollers, a train of operating gears adapted to be driven by said rack, an annular series ot' ratchet teeth carried by one of said gears, a spring projected pawl arranged in said upper stamp teeding roller and adapted to be engaged by said ratchet teeth, whereby the roller is turned in one direction, stamp-sevcrine` shears arranged on said frame, a pawl carried by said stamp-allxing plunger to operate said shears at the proper time tor severing the stamp, and means whereby the stamps are moistened after being severed, substantially as described.

7. in a stamp-allixing machine, a supporting trame, an envelop supporting table connected thereto, a spring retracted plunger slidably mounted in said trame, a rack carried by said plunger, upper and lower stamp feeding rollers journaled in said frame, a train ot' driving gears operatively connected to said rack, a pawl and ratchet mechanism between one oi said gears and said upper feeding roller, whereby the latter is turned in one direction upon the downward movement otl the plunger and adapted to remain idle upon the upward movement `oit the plunger, u reel kshaft, revolubly mounted in said rame and having wound thereon astrip ot stam )s adapted to be fed forwardly and uni-celled by said feeding rollers, stamp-severing shears comprising a` stationary blade, a co-aciing movable blade pivotally mounted on said stationary blade, a pivoted pawl carried by .said plunger and adapted to operate said movable shear blade on the downward movement ol' the plunger, means to hold and moisten theI severed stamp, and means to deposit thc saine on the envelop in position to be engagei'l and fastened by the plunger, substantially as described.

S. ln a stamp-ailixing machine, a supporting trame, a spring retracted plunger slidably mounted in said tramo, upper and lower revolubly mounted `feeding rollers, means actuated by said plunger to operate said leerling rollers, whereby the strip ot' stamps is ted forwardly through the machine, stampsevering shears. means carried by the plunger to actuate said shears and to sever a stamp at the proper time, spring retracted stampup moistening devices on said arms adapted to catch and holfl said severed stump, and Spreadmg ngels on the lowell ends of smd holding arms whereby the THEMAS CLAYTON GILBERT.

i Setou hands in pesence of tw@ Subscribing latter are spread apart to deposit the stamp EUGENE TABLEB Witnesses.

on the envelop *syhen said arms we orcefl JESSEHRIGG TABLE? downwardly by the plunger7 substantmlly as (lescl'lbed,

linesse In testimony wheeof We have hereunto E N. HUGHS, YATES. 

